The Cradle

Home: Kiev, Ukraine

The Cradle is a comprehensive sample library of East European Folk Musical Instruments. It consists of 50 Percussion, Wind, String, and Bourdon Instruments from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria played by the best Ukrainian Folk and Jazz professionals. The instruments include trembita, sopilka, telenka, kaval, zozulka, lyre, kobza, bandura, duda, tsymbaly, bugaj, drymba, and more. There are loops, melodies, patterns, moods, and multi-samples of each instrument with various performances and multiple velocities.

The Cradle is produced by Vasyl Tkach, a Music Producer and Songwriter from Kyiv, Ukraine. Vasyl has hundreds of credits for songwriting, TV commercials, music production, and sound design. Clients include international brands and agencies such as Coca-Cola, Marlboro, Proctor & Gamble, Leo Burnett, BBDO, Think McCann, and dozens of major Ukrainian artists, bands, companies, and TV Channels.

Tsymbaly is the Ukrainian version of the hammer dulcimer. It is a chordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal (steel or bronze) strings strung across it. The tsymbaly is played by striking two beaters against the strings. Instrumental, East European, Bulgaria

Lyre is the old traditional instrument of Slavic nations. It was also widely used in medieval Europe. It’s often called a Wheel Lyre or Hurdy Gurdy. Lyre performance school as well as bandura/kobza one is outlined in a separate musical tradition of performance. Number of samples: 97, Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Woodwinds,

Tsymbaly is the Ukrainian version of the hammer dulcimer. It is a chordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal (steel or bronze) strings strung across it. The tsymbaly is played by striking two beaters against the strings. Instrumental, East European, Belarus

The Basolya is a Ukrainian folk instrument of the bowed string family similar to the cello although slightly larger and not as sophisticated in construction. Sometimes the soundboard was sewn to the body rather than glued. The strings are tuned in fifths. Number of samples: 154, Strings,

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Woodwinds, Indigenous

The Frilka is a more perfected form of sopilka, a traditional Ukrainian flute. It is an open-ended notched flute, a pipe of approximately 8 inches in length. It was often played at funerals in the Carpathians. Often is accompanied with glutteral humming which produces an ostinato tone or drone. Woodwinds,

Sopilka is a general name of the flute family woodwind instruments used in Ukrainian folk music. Most commonly refers to a fife made of a variety of materials (traditionally out of wood) and has 6 to 10 finger holes. There are prima, alto and bass sopilkas in the collection, Woodwinds, Indigenous

Tsymbaly is the Ukrainian version of the hammer dulcimer. It is a chordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal (steel or bronze) strings strung across it. The tsymbaly is played by striking two beaters against the strings. Chromatic Percussion, Indigenous

The Derkach is a Ukrainian version of the rattle, ratchet. It is used in Ukrainian folk instrument orchestras, and also as a child's toy. A similar toy is commonly used in many Jewish communities on the festival of Purim as a noisemaker. In Yiddish it is known as a gragger. Percussion Loops,

The Rubel (kuchelka, kachalka, rebra) is a Ukrainian folk musical instrument. It is primarily a household item used for washing and drying clothes, but it is occasionally used as a percussion instrument. The rasping sound produced is similar to that of the Derkach. Percussion Loops,

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Woodwinds, Indigenous

The Bukhalo is a large drum used in dance music of Carpathians. It is fixed to the player with a belt so that the performer can dance and move about. It is struck with a wooden stick and often has a cymbal joined to the side of the instrument which is struck by a metal rod, or another cymbal. Percussion Loops,

Lyre is the old traditional instrument of Slavic nations. It was also widely used in medieval Europe. It’s often called a Wheel Lyre or Hurdy Gurdy. Lyre performance school as well as bandura/kobza one is outlined in a separate musical tradition of performance. Instrumental, Folk, European Folk

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Woodwinds, Indigenous

The Bugaj (also known as a buhay, buga, bochka) is friction drum, consisting of a conical barrel (or a wooden bucket) with a sheep membrane stretched with a hole in this skin's center, hrough which a tuft of horse hair with a knot at one end is passed. Can produce 5-6 sounds. Achromatic Percussion,

The Bukhalo is a large drum used in dance music of Carpathians. It is fixed to the player with a belt so that the performer can dance and move about. It is struck with a wooden stick and often has a cymbal joined to the side of the instrument which is struck by a metal rod, or another cymbal. Percussion Loops,

The Bukhalo is a large drum used in dance music of Carpathians. It is fixed to the player with a belt so that the performer can dance and move about. It is struck with a wooden stick and often has a cymbal joined to the side of the instrument which is struck by a metal rod, or another cymbal. Achromatic Percussion,

The Kalatalo is a Ukrainian folk instrument used in folk ensembles whenever a drum is not available. It was also used by night guards to scare away intruders. It produces a very loud sound amplified by the stillness of the night. Percussion Loops,

The Rubel (kuchelka, kachalka, rebra) is a Ukrainian folk musical instrument. It is primarily a household item used for washing and drying clothes, but it is occasionally used as a percussion instrument. The rasping sound produced is similar to that of the Derkach. Achromatic Percussion,

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Treschitka is a percussion instrument, set of wooden boards on a string that are clapped together as a group. It was also used by night guards to scare away intruders. It produces a very loud sound amplified by the stillness of the night. Percussion Loops,

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Multi-Sample, World

Trembita is a Dacian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovakian alpine horn made of wood. Used by mountain dwellers in the Carpathians as a signaling device to announce deaths, funerals, weddings. The tube is made from a long straight piece of pine or spruce (preferably one that has been struck by lightning), Woodwinds, Indigenous

The Bugaj (also known as a buhay, buga, bochka) is friction drum, consisting of a conical barrel (or a wooden bucket) with a sheep membrane stretched with a hole in this skin's center, hrough which a tuft of horse hair with a knot at one end is passed. Can produce 5-6 sounds. Drums,

The Bugaj (also known as a buhay, buga, bochka) is friction drum, consisting of a conical barrel (or a wooden bucket) with a sheep membrane stretched with a hole in this skin's center, hrough which a tuft of horse hair with a knot at one end is passed. Can produce 5-6 sounds. Achromatic Percussion,

The Bukhalo is a large drum used in dance music of Carpathians. It is fixed to the player with a belt so that the performer can dance and move about. It is struck with a wooden stick and often has a cymbal joined to the side of the instrument which is struck by a metal rod, or another cymbal. Drums,

The Kalatalo is a Ukrainian folk instrument used in folk ensembles whenever a drum is not available. It was also used by night guards to scare away intruders. It produces a very loud sound amplified by the stillness of the night. Achromatic Percussion,